watson



(No Model.)

' J. W. WATSON.

UMBRELLA} No. 256,774. Pa ted Apr. 18,1882.

UNITED. STATns PATENT @rrrca.

JOHN \V. WATSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WILLIAM GRANT, OF SAME PLACE.

UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,774, dated April 18, 1882.

' Application filed October 5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. \VATSON, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Self-Opening Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate cor- 1o responding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of apart of an umbrella to which my improvement has been applied, the umbrella being shown open. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the umbrella-frame r5 closed. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe upper movable runner, the handle and sleeve being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the collar that carries the rods, the handle being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a diagram to illustrate the movement. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a pair of stretchers, taken through the line 00 x,

The object of this invention is to makea selfopening umbrella. I provide a runner that traverses the umbrella-stick in the usual manner with stretchers from the runner to the ribs. In addition thereto I have a secondary runner having secondary stretchers extending to the ribs. The secondary runner surrounds and moves upon the exterior of the stick-runner. With the two runners 1 connect springs in such a manner that they will be contracted or put under tension by the'act of closing the umbrella-that is, by pulling the stick-runner 5 down toward the handle in the usual manner; but when the stick-runner is released the force of the springs will carry the stick-runner back to the opposite end of the stick, and thereby spread the stretchers and automatically open the umbrella.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of parts by which the above results are accomplished, and which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

5 A represents the stick of an umbrella to the upper part of which is attached the stationary runner B. To the stationary runner B are hinged the inner ends of theribs (J, to the mid the parts of which are hinged the outer ends of the stretchers D. Theinncr ends of the stretchers D are hinged to the runnerE, which slides up and down upon a sleeve, F, placed upon the stick A.

To the runner E are attached the lower ends of four (more or less) rods, G, the upper ends of which are attached to the collar or ring H, sliding upon the stick A. Upon the rods G are placed spiral springs I, the upper ends of which rest against the collar H. The lower ends of the spiral springs I rest against lugs J, formed upon the upper end of the sleeve F, and which are perforated for the passage of the rods G, the lugs J thus serving as guides to the rodsG and as supports for the ends of the springs I. 6

To the outer parts of the stretchers D are attached the outer ends of the stretchers K, the inner ends of which are hinged to lugs or a runner, L, formed upon or attached to the sleeve F a little below its middle part.

Upon the outer ends of the stretchers K are formed books 70, which arehooked into notches in the forks at the outer ends of the stretchers D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The outer parts of the sides ofthe stretchers D, adjacent to the 7 stretchers K, have longitudinal grooves (1 formed in them, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6, to receive the stretchers K, and allow the stretchers D K to come close together, and the umbrella to fold compactly. Upon the lower end of the sleeve F is formed, or to it is attached, a shoulder or collar, M, with which engages,when the umbrella is closed, the springlever catch N, attached to the; lower part of the stick A, to lock the said umbrella closed, andwhich is operated to release the sleeve F by pressingits lower end inward. Vith this construction, when the sleeve F is released from the catch N, the springs I tend to force the rods G, and with them the runner E and the inner ends of the supplementary stretchers D, upward, and the sleeve F, and with it the inner ends of the stretchers K, downward. The attempted movement of the inner ends of the stretchers D Kfrom each other would cause 5 the connected outer ends of the said stretchers to move outward in the direction of arrow 1 if the said outer ends were left free; but the outer ends of the stretchers D K areliinged to the ribs 0, so thatthe said outer ends can only move in the arcs of circles having their centers at the hinging-points of the said ribs (J, as indicated by arrow 2, which movement causes the sleeve F and its attachments to slide up the'stick A, opening the umbrella. The umbrella is closed by drawing the sleeve F downward until the collar 'M meets and engages with the lever-catch N.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A self-opening umbrella, made substantially as herein shown and described, with secondary runner, secondary stretehers, and springs carried with the two runners, as set forth.

2. In an umbrella, the combination, with the stick A, the ribs 0, the stretchers D, and the runner E, of the rods G, the springs I, the runner L, and'the secondary stretehers K, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the umbrella will be opened automatically when the main runner is released, as set forth.

3. In a self-opening umbrella, the combination of the rods G and springs I, with the two runners E L, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said runners will be forced apart and the ribs extended by the tension of the said springs, as set forth.

4. In a self-opening umbrella, the combination, with the spring-carrying rods G, of the collar H, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the upper ends of the said rods are supported from the umbrella-stick and held in place, as set forth.

5. In a self-opening umbrella, the combination, with the springs I, the collar H, the rods G, and the runner E, of the lugs J, formed upon the runner-sleeve F, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said springs are held against the pull of the said rods, as set forth.

6. In a self-opening umbrella, the combination of the two sets of stretehers D K, with the two runners E L, substantiallyas herein shown and described, whereby the ribs will be extended by moving the two runners from each other, as set forth.

7. In a self-opening umbrella, the combination, with the stretcher K, provided with the books 70, of the stretcher D, having its outer forked end notched and provided with the longitudinal groove 01, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a self-opening umbrella, the stretehers K, made with hooks 7c, and fitted into notches in the forks of the stretcbers D at their outer ends, whereby the two sets of stretchers can be readily connected, as set forth.

JOHN \V. WVATSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES 'I. GRAHAM, G. SEDGwIcK. 

